Rainfall Aids in Containing Wildfire in Iwate, Japan
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Synopsis
Consistent rainfall in Ofunato City, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, has significantly helped control a wildfire that has impacted the area for over a week, as reported on March 5 by local media. The fire, which has damaged numerous structures, is the largest seen in Japan since the late 1980s.
Key Takeaways
- Rainfall has effectively contained the wildfire.
- The fire has burned approximately 2900 hectares.
- Damage reported to 78 buildings.
- Evacuation orders affect over 4,000 residents.
- This wildfire is the most significant in Japan since the late 1980s.
Tokyo, March 5 (NationPress) Consistent rainfall on Wednesday has played a crucial role in containing the spread of a week-long wildfire in Ofunato City, located in Japan's Iwate Prefecture, according to local news sources.
The wildfire, which ignited on February 26, has devastated vast regions, incinerating around 2900 hectares, which equates to approximately nine percent of the city's total land area, as reported by national broadcaster NHK.
For the first time since the outbreak commenced, steady rainfall was documented on Wednesday, with a total of 17 mm recorded by 5 PM local time. The city announced that no further spread of the fire was noted, crediting this to the rainfall.
A recent assessment revealed damage to 78 buildings, encompassing homes, unoccupied properties, and commercial spaces, revising the previous estimate of at least 84 structures, as stated by NHK.
Officials cautioned that the tally of affected buildings may rise as additional surveys are conducted, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
Rain is anticipated to persist through Thursday, with forecasts predicting up to 20 mm of extra precipitation within the next 24 hours for southern coastal regions of Iwate Prefecture, including Ofunato.
Over the weekend, the Iwate Prefecture government issued a new evacuation directive for 333 individuals from 141 homes, compounding the situation for over 4,000 residents in roughly 1,900 households already ordered to leave their residences.
Reports indicate that more than 1,000 people were seeking refuge at evacuation centers in the city, as the Japanese Self-Defense Force helicopters collaborated with roughly a dozen prefectures to manage the fire, which has claimed one life and destroyed over 100 homes.
As per the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, this forest fire is the most extensive Japan has experienced since the late 1980s.
